What Is Automatic Self-Regulation?

Abstract

Based on Bargh’s (1994) principles of automaticity, and Förster, Liberman, and Friedman’s (2007) principles of automatic goal activation, we discuss recent findings suggesting automatic self-regulation. We found evidence that many self-regulatory strategies can be automatized, particularly goal activation outside of participants’ awareness, and procedures to inhibit accessibility of competing goals and to devalue temptations. However, our review also suggests that many findings that are interpreted as automatic self-regulation are inconclusive. It is not clear whether these findings involve goal pursuit, or whether the processes involved are truly automatic. Particularly the issue of uncontrollability – a hallmark of automaticity – has been underexamined in self-regulation research. Based on this review, we conclude that full automaticity in self-regulation cannot be assumed and discuss the possibility that it would even be dysfunctional.